EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros and Todd Phillips are starting to get serious about Arms & The Dudes, the film about two stoners who become arms dealers. Talks are about to get underway with Jesse Eisenberg and Shia LaBeouf to star in a film that Phillips will direct about the two unlikeliest arms dealers who got a $300 million contract to supply weapons for its allies in Afghanistan. They soon found themselves in danger abroad and in trouble back home because they were completely out of their depth. The pic is based on a Rolling Stone article by Guy Lawson and Phillips has been working on it for years under his Green Hat banner; it becomes the first major project since he joined forces with Bradley Cooper. Mark Gordon is also producing and Bryan Zuriff is exec producer. Jason Smilovic is writing the script with Phillips and Stephen Chin has also written a draft. Gordon got this party started, finding the article and joining forces with The Hangover director to turn it into a film.

Eisenberg stars as Lex Luthor in Batman V Superman at Warner Bros, and wrapped American Ultra. He’s repped by CAA and so is LaBeouf, who most recently was seen in the Lars von Trier-directed Nymphomaniac double feature, and Charlie Countryman. He’s managed by John Crosby.

Jesse Ehrman and Jon Gonda are overseeing the project for the studio.

12 Comments

Joe The Producer • on Sep 4, 2014 3:14 pm

Shia is on a roll. But no one wants to see anything he’s in. Good call WB. Another stinker.

Michael • on Sep 4, 2014 3:14 pm

I thought Shia quit the biz…

Guest • on Sep 4, 2014 3:14 pm

How and why is Shia getting gigs? Startling. This could be good if not for his involvement

Simon B • on Sep 4, 2014 3:14 pm

Great story – todd will deliver on it.

Anonymous • on Sep 4, 2014 3:14 pm

Shia’s a quality actor–dude just needs good parts and to keep his head together between jobs.

Anonymous • on Sep 4, 2014 3:14 pm

Pass if Shia’s in it

Mark K. • on Sep 4, 2014 3:14 pm

He’s made a lot of immature stupid mistakes but he’s paying for them. I hope this clicks for him. Very talented young man, great casting generally.

Anonymous • on Sep 4, 2014 3:14 pm

At joe the producer sounds like YOU don’t want to see Shia. He’s an amazing actor dealing with personal issues, remember Robert Downey? Look at him now.

Anonymous • on Sep 4, 2014 3:14 pm

Shia is a very talented actor just dealing with personal issues. Judge the acting not the person. Remember Downey?? Look at him now, one of the greats. I’m sure people said the same thing your saying to him back then.

Greg • on Sep 4, 2014 3:14 pm

In other words, Smilovic is writing and Todd is taking half the credit

Hot Dumb Italian Mike! • on Sep 4, 2014 3:14 pm

They’re both great actors, it’ll work. Shia L will be just fine, he’s a lot more smarter and publicity experienced than people would ever believe.

Anonymous • on Sep 4, 2014 3:14 pm

Supposedly the real Efraim Diveroli has his own book coming out with the REAL story, not some stoner comedy movie made from a cheesy article. THAT’S what they should base the movie on.

This article was printed from http://deadline.com/2014/09/jesse-eisenberg-shia-labeouf-todd-phillips-arms-the-dude-829292/